Campanula plant named ‘PKM04’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of  Campanula  plant named ‘PKM04’ characterized by its upright, freely branching and compact growth habit and bicolored (white/violet) broad campanulate flowers.

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: Campanula hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PKM04’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant, botanically known as Campanula hybrid, common name Bellflower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘PKM04’.

The new Campanula originated from a planned cross between two different Campanula species; the female parent being an unnamed, proprietary Campanula variety (unpatented) and the male parent being an unnamed, proprietary Campanula variety (unpatented). The initial crossing was performed in 2012 by the Inventor, followed by further testing and selection in 2013 after vegetative propagation.

Vegetative propagation was performed by terminal cuttings taken and propagated in Søhus, Denmark. Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula cultivar by terminal cuttings has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PKM04’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PKM04’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and freely branching growth habit;     -   2. Bicolored flowers.     -   3. Compact growth with no need for growth regulators

Plants of the cultivar ‘PKM04’ can be compared to plants of the Campanula ‘PKM03’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,516). In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Søhus, Denmark, ‘PKM04’ and ‘PKM03’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘PKM04’ produce smaller plants than ‘PKM03’.     -   2. ‘PKM04’ has darker purple flowers than ‘PKM03’.     -   3. ‘PKM04’ has darker green leaves than ‘PKM03’     -   4. ‘PKM04’ has much less pollen than ‘PKM03’, thus the purple         styles are visible whereas the styles of ‘PKM03’ are covered         with yellowish pollen.

Data on plants of the parent varieties is no longer available for comparison with plants of the new cultivar Campanula ‘PKM04’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Campanula ‘PKM04’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which more accurately describe the actual colors of ‘PKM04’. Plants in the photographs are shown approximately 14 weeks after propagation.

FIG. 1: The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PKM04’, as grown in a 10.5 cm pot.

FIG. 2: The photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘PKM04’.

FIG. 3: The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘PKM04’ and ‘PKM03’, as grown in a 10.5 cm pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Campanula ‘PKM04’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, growth regulator treatment and fertility level without any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Campanula ‘PKM04’ as grown under greenhouse conditions in a 10.5 cm pot.

The age of the ‘PKM04’ plants described is about 14 weeks after propagation. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition, 2007, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Campanula hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Unnamed proprietary variety of             Campanula (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary variety of             Campanula (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18 to 21° C.             in tunnels in a greenhouse.         -   Root description.—Fine, well branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright growth habit and overall globular shape.             Freely branching with basal shoots. No pinching required.         -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 14 weeks are required to             produce finished flowering plants in up to 11 cm pots.         -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—Up to             15 cm.         -   Plant spread (width).—Up to 24 cm.         -   Vigor.—Good. Average growth rate.         -   Lateral branches.—Number per plant: 10-15. Length: up to 14             cm (including flowers). Diameter: approximately 3 mm.             Internode length: 5-15 mm.         -   Stem.—Shape: Round-edged. Strength: Stiff. Color: Green, RHS             137B, as leaf blade. Pubescence: None. Lactate: a limited             quantity of white, RHS NN155D, lactate is produced. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Quantity per lateral branch.—5-10.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Single, alternate.         -   Leaf shape.—Basal: Cordate. Apical: Elliptic to ovate.         -   Leaf tip.—Acute (Apical and Basal leaves).         -   Leaf base.—Basal: Cordate. Apical: Acute to Obtuse.         -   Leaf length.—Basal: up to 30 mm. Apical: 10-15 mm.         -   Leaf width.—Basal: up to 30 mm. Apical: 10 mm.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Margin.—Dentate to Serrate, more prominent on basal than             apical leaves.         -   Color.—Upper Surface, RHS N137A, Green. Lower Surface, RHS             138B, Green.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnipalmate. Color: Upper Surface: same             as leaf blade, green RHS N137A. Lower Surface: same as             blade, green RHS 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Basal: up to 50 mm. Apical: 0-10 mm.             Diameter: 1-2 mm. Color: same as leaf blade, green RHS             N137A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Broad campanulate flowers.             Upright to spreading arrangement. Inflorescences are             panicles.         -   Flower longevity.—Longevity of individual flowers is highly             dependent on temperature and light conditions; average about             2-3 weeks. Flowers persistent. Natural flowering season             spring to early summer.         -   Inflorescence size.—Length: up to 10 cm.         -   Flowers.—Quantity per inflorescence: 12-16. Length: about             20 mm. Diameter: 30-40 mm. Arrangement and Shape: Single,             sympetalous, campanulate. Upright to outward facing. Petal             Color: Inner surface: Base: NN155B , White. Apex: RHS 88B,             Violet. Outer surface: Base: RHS NN155B. Apex: RHS 91B.             Little darker/more intense at the apex than at the base.             Color does not fade.         -   Corolla.—Curvature: weakly to moderately reflexing when             fully open. Petal number: 5, fused at lower half. Petal             Shape: Obtuse lobes. Petal Margin: Entire. Petal Apex:             Acute. Lobe Length: up to 13 mm lobes. Lobe Width: 10-13 mm             maximum on lobes. Petal texture: Glabrous on both upper and             lower surfaces. Fragrance: None. Petaloid lobes: Absent.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Free. Appearance: Glabrous. Quantity             per flower: 5. Length: 5-8 mm. Width: 2 mm. Overall shape:             Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Color (mature and             immature): Upper and lower surfaces: Green, as leaf blade,             RHS N137A. Pedicel: Length: 5-10 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Color: Green, as leaf blade, RHS N137A.         -   Buds.—Length: Up to 15 mm. Diameter: Up to 7 mm. Shape:             Oblong, ridged. Color: Changes from yellow-green to nearly             88B at the apex. Coloration of buds starts at the tip. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1. Length: 15-20 mm.         -   Style.—Length: 12-18 mm. Color: almost white (RHS NN155D) at             base (lower half), darker purple (RHS 94A) than petal upper             part in the upper half.         -   Ovary.—Color: Green, RHS N137A.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Tripartite. Color: Greyish, area too small to             determine R.H.S. value.         -   Stamen.—Number: 5.         -   Anther.—Size: 5 mm. Color: yellow to light brown, area too             small to determine R.H.S. value.         -   Pollen.—Amount: None to very little. Color: Pale yellow;             amount too small to determine R.H.S. value. -   High/low temperature tolerance: Plant is not frost tolerant. -   Disease resistance and/or susceptibility: Not tested. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula hybrid plant named ‘PKM04’, as illustrated and described herein. 